2012

Nothing lasts forever, and The Newcomers' Club of St. John's is no exception. It has been fun while it lasted, but all that is left are good memories and drop in coffee mornings at The Rooms coffee shop every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Keep in mind the weather may be capricious: in the summer it may be too gorgeous to spend any time indoors, and in the winter there may be a Wednesday blizzard, nevertheless, if you feel at all a little adventurous, take a chance and check out the restaurant on the fourth floor of The Rooms. The menu is interesting and the Museum offers food for thought, so you may have a good time even if none of the left-over ex-newcomers shows up.
MAY THE NEW YEAR BE KIND TO YOU AND YOURS

OCTOBER 2011 AND BEYOND

Over the dozen years of the club's existence, membership of the Newcomers' Club St. John's has been fluctuating between close to an 100 registered members and the present count of 22. The club truly helped newcomers with settling into their new homes in the City of St. John's and vicinity. Due to relocation, changes in personal commitments and gainful employment of the officers of the club, it is impossible to continue with a structured programme or activities many of us found so rewarding in the past with the exception of friendly and informal coffee mornings at The Rooms through the month of December.

Coffee mornings at The Rooms, Wednesdays:

OCTOBER 12th and 26th
NOVEMBER 9th and 23rd
DECEMBER 7th and 21st

Should some of the latest arrivals to St. John's be interested in helping to reinvigorate the group and offer to assume some of the duties, please, get in touch with Michelle or Hana at the phone numbers provided at the top of the Club's blog introduction. We will happily offer assistance and answer any questions about the club or life in St. John's. The gmail address is no longer current.

SEPTEMBER 2011

Over the summer attandance at the morning coffees fluctuated between cozy gathering of 4 up to overcrowded 3 tables. Since many of our regulars are still away and Labor Day weekend tends to stretch into a week, our next coffee morning will take place on Wednesday, September 14th. Anyone interested in helping The Newcomers of St. John's with programs is welcome to attend one of the coffee mornings, all ideas are much appreciated.

Coffe mornings at The Rooms, Wednesdays September 14th and 28th at 10:30AM.

Book Club meeting Tuesday September 27th - for details contact Hana - 738-0266.

JUNE 2011

Coffee at The Rooms: Wednesday June 15th and 29th at 10:15 AM. . The last May coffee morning was a pleasant and rather cozy affair with 6 newcomers present, one a recent addition to the group. In July, and August, you can find one of our old timers at The Rooms on the following Wednesdays: July 13th, and 27th, August 10th, and 24th. Should there be any changes, please check information on the Newcomers’ Blog.
Book Notes Day Book Club: Tuesday, June 14th, 12 NOON at Aqua Restaurant on Water St. Please call Hana at 738-0266 by Friday June 10th if you plan to attend, so that she can finalize the arrangements at the restaurant. This will be our last regular book club meeting for this membership year. We shall enjoy the interesting fare at AQUA restaurant at 310 Water Street. We will meet there at 12 NOON which should give us plenty of time to engage in a discussion of Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants while waiting for our main course, as well as planning future reading selections, and exchange books, Chinese auction style with coffee and dessert. Please wrap your contribution, the mystery is half of the enjoyment. Our June selection is Sara Gruen’s, Water for Elephants: This selection replaces the originally planned discussion of Anna Karenina, which will take place in September, once we are settled in our routines after the summer break.


SUMMER - Although the recent series of foggy days could make you think there is no such thing as summer in Newfoundland and Labrador, one of these days you will be surprised to wake up into a lovely warm sunny day. Try to participate in one of the many activities planned for Canada Day in communities on the Avalon. Music enthusiasts shall find many concerts scheduled as part of Festival 500, while sports fans will enjoy the annual St. John's Regatta on the first Wednesday in August. For more ideas visit the official site of the City of St. John's, Mile One, Arts and Culture Centres, The Scope on line or as a free publication available at many local stores. Watch for caplines' arrival at Middle Cove, and do not miss the Annual Blueberry Festival at Brigus. Make the most of the shortest summer in Canada.

MAY 2011

ACTIVITIES
Coffee mornings at The Rooms: Wednesdays May 11th and 25th at 10:15AM in the museum's coffee shop on the fourth floor. Attendance fluctuates in number depending of travel plans of our members, but you will always find an interesting group consisting of members of long standing as well as new arrivals.
Movie night, Wednesday May 11th at 7:10PM at the Empire Studio 12, Avalon Mall. Water for Elephants. Come a little earlier to make sure you can sit together. The book club will be reading the novel this film is based on, whic may provide interesting discussions.
Walk in Bowring Park - Thursday, May 26th at 9:30AM (in case of rain, postponed one day to Friday, May 27th). The group will meet at the upper parking lot at the corner of Waterford Bridge Road and Park Road. Look for Hana, easily recognized, as she will be accompanied by 2 eager dachshunds. Wear comfortable trainers or hiking shoes/boots and count on spending 60-90 minutes in fresh air.

Morning Coffee at The Rooms, Wednesdays April 13th and 27th at 10:15AM - - The Newcomers' Club members welcome or fresh arrivals at this regular informal meeting. It is the easiest way to make contact with our group and find out more about our activity groups and future plans. As the weather improves and Spring begins to resemble itself, we attempt to offer more outdoor activities, walking, jogging and hiking.

Morning Coffee at The Rooms: Wednesdays March 2nd, 16th and 30th at 10:15AM - The Rooms have become the Newcomers’ HQ for informal meetings separate from general meetings and interest groups activities. While the first coffee morning of the new year consisted of 3 drop-ins, the following February coffee mornings welcomed back Liz, and talk was centered on club’s future plans, especially the upcoming March fundraiser. If you would like to stay for lunch, the Red Oak Catering menu and daily specials offer interesting tastes at reasonable prices. To check or arrange a lunch date, call Hana. Wednesday evenings are free at The Rooms, and often offer interesting lectures by guest curators and artists in the lecture theatre at 7:00PM. Check the museum web site for more information.
Michelle Lacroix 738-7123 Hana Semerad 738-0266
BOOK NOTES - Afternoon Book Club - Tuesday, March 22ndOK NOTES: We will be discussing One Day by David Nicholls, who is said to have both a very deft prose style and a great understanding of human emotion. His characterization is utterly convincing. One Day is destined to be a modern classic.' (Daily Mirror 20090621)